This new job has definitely been a big change from my experience working in public libraries, especially giving me a lot more responsibility. The past week and a half or so has been filled with my not only getting used to my new position, but with a TON of Learning Center orientations. Normally this is something that is only done with the 7th grade students, but since the 8th graders do not know me (and because some policy/activity changes have been made), I wanted to give them a mini-orientation of the Learning Center. With around 1400 students at the school, these orientations have kept me extremely busy, but I'm about finished with them. I have to say, I never really understood the world of a school librarian and I am starting to see just how crazy it is. I am always busy and I must be extremely flexible when it comes to the Learning Center itself, but also with scheduling and when working with teachers. I don't think I have ever been so busy in any of my previous library positions, which makes the days fly by.
One thing I'm starting this year at the middle school is rather than having a traditional book club, I'm going to be starting a Teen Advisory Board. For me, I feel like there is so much more a Teen Advisory Board can offer to my students in the present and for their future. Since last Thursday, I have given out a little over 150 T.A.B. applications! I have had 15 students turn them in as of yesterday. I'm sure not all of the students that took an application will join, but for this to be my first "project" I'm working on, I'm really excited to see how it ends up. Our meetings start in October, so I will keep you all posted with how this goes.
I have still been busy reading too, so keep an eye out for book reviews in the next few days. Once again, I apologize for being M.I.A. but this new career opportunity has kept me, happily, busy. :-)
P.S. On top of all of this, my sweet kitty Dewey was rushed to the vet last week with a blocked urinary tract. I hear this is common in male cats, but since Dewey is my first cat, I had no idea about this. I caught it pretty early, but he still was close to possibly dying. He is recovery pretty well...but man it definitely threw me for a loop last week on top of the new job.
